C Minor 9th

Cm9

Notes

C · Eb · G · Bb · D

Intervals

  • RootC (1P)
  • Minor 3rdEb (3m)
  • Perfect 5thG (5P)
  • Minor 7thBb (7m)
  • Major 9thD (9M)

Fretboard

EBGDAE357912GBbCDEbCDEbGBbGBbCDEbGDEbGBbCDBbCDEbGGBbCDEb

About

The Cm9 minor ninth (C–E♭–G–B♭–D) extends a minor 7 with a ninth. The D sits above the B♭ and adds an expressive, singing quality. The essential tones are the E♭ (minor identity), B♭ (seventh extension), and D (defining color); the 5th can be dropped to keep voicings clear. m9 chords appear frequently in jazz, neo-soul, and ambient styles as tonic or pre-dominant harmony — for example as ii in a major ii–V–I (Cm9 → F9 → B♭Maj9). Compared to Cm7, the added 9th gives more emotional dimension without increasing tension.

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